Canada reached the gold medal game in strong form and confidence, but the final proved tougher. The team created chances and controlled play for long stretches in that game. Still, one missing piece changed the game’s feel.
That absence has now become a big talking point after the loss.
Brad Marchand Admits Canada Fell Short in Sidney Crosby’s Absence
Brad Marchand spoke openly after Canada’s 2-1 overtime loss to the United States in the Olympic gold medal game on Sunday. The veteran forward pointed to the absence of Sidney Crosby as a major factor in the defeat, as Canada played without its captain in the tournament’s biggest game.
Marchand said, “You feel bad letting a guy like that down. One of the best ever to play. One of the best leaders to ever play the game. Wish we could have got it done for him,” and made it clear the group wanted to win for Crosby.
Crosby picked up a lower-body injury in Canada’s quarterfinal game against Czechia on Feb. 18. The issue came in the second period after an awkward play that affected his right leg. He did not play in the semifinal versus Finland and also sat out the gold medal game against the United States.
Canada still controlled large parts of the game and created many chances. Cale Makar scored early in the second period to tie the game 1-1, but Canada could not beat Connor Hellebuyck again despite heavy pressure. The United States stayed patient and took its chance in overtime.
There were key moments that could have changed the result. Canada had a two-man advantage in the second period but did not score. Later, Nathan MacKinnon had an open look in the third period but missed the net. Those missed chances played a big role in the final score.
With Crosby out, Connor McDavid took over as captain, but registered no points in the final game. He finished the tournament with the most points (13) and earned MVP honors, but the team could not find the winning goal.
READ MORE: Matthew Tkachuk Bangs Patriotic Drum After Finally Humbling Canada
The game ended when Jack Hughes scored 1:41 into overtime to give the United States the win. Canada had a strong run through the tournament, including a perfect record (3-0) in the preliminary round, but the final came down to finishing chances.
Marchand had a limited role during the early games, as he was rested to stay fresh for the later rounds. He returned for the quarterfinal and remained in the lineup through the final.
